Regulating and circuit-controlling apparatus



Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,587

E. J. BLAKE REGULATING AND CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 I I W W I I Cl. @51 1 Gwen mg Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,587

' E. J. BLAKE REGULATING AND CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed 06 m. 14, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Apr. 24, 1923.

E. J. BLAKE REGULATING AND CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 w I I IIIIIIIIIIIII I :I:I Ti

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I IIIIIIII| I I I I I N I I I I I I I 3513 {W3 Guam Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

ELI J. BLAKE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COUPLER COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

REGULA TING AND CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 14, 1920. Serial No. 416,855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELI J. BLAKE, citizen ofthe United States, and resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating and Circuit-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.-

My invention relates to regulating and circuit-controlling apparatus and is particularly useful in the regulation of variable speed generators which charge a battery and supply current to a lighting circuit and in controlling the connection of the generator to the main circuit and its disconnection therefr'om.

One object of the invention is to provide a regulator of the compressible resistance type which is not only light in weight and takes up little space but is also very sensitive and does not require the use of the usual dash-pots.

A further object of the invention is to combine an automatic switch with the regulator to be actuated by the same electromagnetic means which control the regulator, in a simple and efficient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved compact regulating means operating ,on both ends of the compressible variable resistance.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detail description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 shows a wiring diagram of a complete system embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of a preferred form of the regulator;

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the same; and Fig. {1 shows a diagram of the magnetic circuits and the relation ofthe controlling elements thereto. 1

Referring to Fig. 1, the arrangement shown therein comprises a generator 1 having the usual shunt field winding 2, in series with which is a carbon. pile 3. A battery 4 and lamps 6 are connected to the generator by the automatic switch 5. The variation in the voltage of the battery, due to charge and discharge is prevented from being felt at the lamps y the lamp regulator,

which includes a carbon pile 7 in series with the lamps, operating magnets 8, connected across the lamp circuit by conductors 9, and

the mechanism 10, 11 and 12, which acts tov vvary the resistance-of the pile 7.

If the voltage of the lamps tends to increase above a predetermined value the electro-magnets 8 attract the armature 11, pivoted at its center, causing the cam 9' to back away from the roller on the end of the lever 10 and thus reduce the pressure on the carbon pile to increase its resistance and maintain the voltage constant.

' The carbon pile 7, hasthiok discs 13 and i0- thin discs 14, and a coil 15 is connected in series with the pile, and by means of an armature 16, short-circuits the discs 14 whenever the current flowing through the pile exceeds a predetermined amount. Connected across the points of the automatic switch 5 is a coil 17 which controls an armature 18, which when in the position shown in Fig. 1 short-circuits the lamp regulator pile and places the lamps 6 directly across the battery. When the automatic switch is closed the coil 17 is short-circuited and the armature 18 drops, thereby removing the short-circuit from around the lamp regulator pile.

The generator regulator comprises a compressible variable resistance 3 composed of a plurality of carbon discs carried by and between porcelain tubes 19 in the usual manner. The regulator is sup orted by a base 20 of magnetic material. ivoted in 2. ln 21 .on the base is a lever 22 having connec at One end thereof a link 23, upon which is carried-a head 24, which operates upon one end of the pile through an insulator 25. Connected with the other end of the lever 22 is a link 26, which is pivoted intermediate its ends at 27 to the lever'22. One end of the link 26 is connected by meansof a long link 28 to the armature 29 at point 30, and

at the lamps substantially the other end of the link 28 is connected by a short link 31 to the armature 32' at 33.

oted at 38. This armature is moved in a counter-clockwise direction against the action of the spring 34 by a magnet coil 39 energizing a magnetic circuit through this armature 32-which includes poles 40 and 41.

Mounted at the opposite side of the base 20 on a .lug 42 is a lever 43, having at one end a link 44, with a head 45 thereon, acting through an insulator 46 upon the other end of the pile 3. Pivoted to the other end of the lever 43 is a link 47. To one end of the link 47 is connected a long link 48, which connects with the armature 32 at 49; and connected to the other'end of the link 47 is a short link 50 connected to the armature 29 V at 51. The armature 29 is pulled toward the position shown in Fig. 2'by a coil spring 52 anchored in the rod 35, and the armature 29 is limited in its counter-clockwise rotation to the position shown in Fig. 2 by a pin or stop 53 engaging the edge of another opening in the member 37. This armature 29 is moved in a clockwise direction against the force of the spring 52 by an electro-magnet 68 which energizes a magnetic circuit through the armature which includes poles 54 and 55.

For convenience 'I have indicated by arrows the direction of the forces exerted upon the levers and links by the magnets against the opposing force of springs 34 and 52.

The links 26 and. 47 function as equalizers to cause a movement of either armature to produce substantially simultaneously an equal movement of the heads at opposite ends of the carbon pile.-

'Mounted between the poles 40 and 54 is an armature 57, pivoted at 58 and pulled toward the position shown in Fig. 2 by a coil spring 59. This armature is limited in vits counter-clockwise movement by a pin 60 engagin the edge of another opening in the mem er 37. A switch member 61 of the main switch 5, is pivoted at 62, to a lug on frame 20, and carries a contact. 63 which engages with a contact 64 to complete the circuit from the generator to the battery. A

carbon contact 65 is connected withthe (mntact 63 by a flexible conductingmember 66 I for the purpose of taking the arc in the customary manner, so as to preserve the contact points of the members 63'and 64. This construction is best shown in Fig. 3. The movable member 61 of the automatic switch is connected with the armature 57 by means of a link 67 so-that when the armature 57, as shown in Fig. 1, is rotated in a clockwise direction, the contacts 63 and 64 are brought into engagement. Obviously any means may be used for connecting the armature 57 to the switch member 61.

In operation, when the generator speeds up and'reaches a speed which will produce a predetermined voltage, the current in the coil 68 will cause'armature 57 to close the automatic switch. Current will then flow to the batteryand, if any are connected, to the lamps, the amount of current depending upon the state of charge of the battery and the number of lamps connected. This current passing through coil 39 assists in maintaining switch 5 closed and causes the armature 57 to become-more. nearly saturated. If the battery state of charge is relatively low the current going to the battery increases to a predetermined value when the armature 32 moves against the force of the spring 34, and by movement of the levers at both ends, increases the resistance of the pile 3 so that the generator is controlledand the current is maintained at substantially that predetermined value. While this condition continues the movements of armature 32 aretransmitted through links 31 and 48 to the lower and upper ends respectively of equalizers 26 and 4 and produce equal movements at opsite ends of the carbon pile, the opposite ends of the equalizers being fixed because armature 29 is resting against its stop. This condition exists despite changes of speed of the generator until such time as the batterv becomes charged so that its back voltage is suflicient to cause the voltage coil 68 to be strong enough to overcome the force of spring 52 and move armature 29. This movement is transmitted through links 28 and 50 to the upper and lower ends respectively of equalizers 26 and 47 and thus equally to the two ends of the carbon pile. The effect of the coming into action of the, voltage coil is to maintain a constant volt age which results in a gradual falling off of battery current and hence a gradual falling back of armature 32 against its stop. Once the armature 32 is against its stop, the voltage coil takes complete control until some change of lamp load or battery condition (due for example to stoppage of the train and discharge of the battery) causes the current output to rise and bring the current coil into action.

If for any reason the current through the lamp pile increases beyond a predetermined amount the coil 15 will short-circuit the discs 14 so as to avoid unnecessary heat in the armature 57 of the'main switch opposes that of voltage coil 68, wherefore the main switch opens.

Durin the time that the main switch is closed t e coil '17 will be de-enrgizedso that the short-circuit around the lamp pile is open. As soon, however, as the generator speed decreases so that the spring 59 opens the automatic switch, the coil 1'2" will be energized and the battery placed directly on the lamp circuit, and the lamp pile shortcircuited.

The general type of torsion regulator embodied in both the lamp regulator and generator regulator disclosed, is not claimed herein, such regulator bein claimed in my copending application Serial No. 415,800 filed October 9. 1920.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a diagram illustrating the magnetic circuits of the generator regulator, the arrows indicating the direction of magneto motive forces produced when the main switch is closed and from which it will be noted that the armature 57 is affected by both coils 68 and 39. However, the flux density in the magnetic circuits is held well inside the saturationpoint, so that the armature 32 is not materially aflected by variations in strength of the electro-magnet 68 and the armature 29 is not materially affected by variation in strength of the electro-m t 39.

While I have disclosed my invention by showing one specific embodiment thereof and describing the details, my invention is not limited thereto, but includes any changes in details of construction and arrangement which do not brin it outside of the scope of the appended c aims. While I prefer the simultaneous operation upon both ends of the carbon pile, it is obvious that the princi les of my construction are such that comp ete regulation can be afi'ected at either end of the carbon pile, by fixing the other end.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a

resistance variable with itslength, a lever fulcrumed between its ends and operating through one end upon saidresistance, an equalizing member centrally pivoted to the other end of said lever,'two links rallel with said resistance connected to t e ends of said member, and an el'ectro-responsive device connected to each of said links.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a

resistance variable with its length, alever fulcrumed between its ends and operating throughl one end upon said resistance, an

equalizing member centrally pivoted to the other end of said lever, two links arallel with said resistance connected to jt e ends of said member, and arotatable electro responsive device connectedto each of said.

links.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a resistance variable with its len -h, a lever fulcrumed between its ends an operating through one end upon said resistance, an

equalizing member centrally pivotedto the other end of said lever, two links parallel with said resistance connected to the ends of said member, two independent electro-- operatively related to each end of the resis'tance and connections from said armature to both of said levers.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a resistance variable'with its length, two magnets each having pole pieces and a centrally pivoted armature between them, a lever operatively related to each end of the resistance, and connections from each armature to both of said levers.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a resistance variable by change of its length, a lever with one end operating upon an end thereof, two. electro-responsively inovable members, an equalizing member centrally pivoted to the other end of said lever, mechanical connections from said equalizing member to the respective electro-responsively movable members and a stop for each electro-responsively movable member limiting its movement in one direction.

7. A combined generator regulator and circuit controlling switch including two coils, a magnetic path] for each coil and a magnetic path common to the two coils, and, an armature in each of the three paths.

8. A combined generator re lator and circuit controlling switch inc uding two coils, a magnetic path common thereto, a switch controlling armature therein, two independent magnetic paths forthe respective coils, and a regulator armature in each thereof.

9. In apparatus of the class described, two

magnets each having'an armature pivoted between its poles on an axis parallel therewith, a resistance variable with its'length,

and means for causing the movements of either armature to vary the length of the resistance. y 10.- A3 combined generator regulator 'and circuit controlling switch" including a rewhich is operatively related to said resistance.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit, a

compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, a coil responsive to changes in battery current, means controlled thereby for varying said resistance responand 'meansaffected by both coils for effecting the operation of said main switch.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit connected thereto in parallel, a compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, an electro-magnet responsive to changes in battery current and having two poles, an armature therefor pivoted to swing between said two poles and vary said resistance, an electro-magnet responsive to voltage changes of the generator and having two poles, and an armature therefor, pivoted to swing between said last two mentioned poles and vary said resistance, each of said armatures being adapted to vary the pressure on both ends of said compressible variable resistance substantially simultaneously.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit connected thereto in parallel, a compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, an electro-magnet responsive to changes in battery current and having two poles, an armature therefor, pivoted to swing between said two poles and vary sai l resistance, an electro-magnet responsive to voltage changes of the generator and having two poles, and an armature therefor pivoted to swing between said last two mentioned poles and vary said resistance, a main switch in the generator circuit and an armature controlled by both magnets for effecting the closing and opening of said switch.

14. In an apparatus of the classdescribed,

the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit connected thereto in parallel, a compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, an electro-magnet responsive to changes in battery current and having two oles, an armature therefor pivoted to swing etween said two poles and vary said resistance, an electro-magnet responsive to voltage changes of the generator and having two poles, and an armature therefor responsive to current changes, a coil responsive to generator voltage changes, means controlled thereby for varying said resistance responsive to voltage changes, the means controlled by one of said coils being substantially unaffected by the other coil, :1 main switch in circuit with the generator, and means affected by both coils for effecting the operation of'- said main switch.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit connected thereto in parallel, a compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, a coil responsive to changes in battery current, means controlled thereby for varying said resistance responsive to current changes, a coil responsive to generator voltage changes, means controlled thereby for varying said resistance responsive to voltage changes, one of said means being adapted to vary said resistance independently of theother means, a main switch in circuit with the generator, and means affected by both coils for effecting the operation of said main switch.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, I

the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit connected thereto in parallel, a compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, a coil responsive to changes in battery current, means controlled thereby for varying saidresistance responsive to current changes, a coil responsive to generator voltage changes, means controlled thereby for varying said resistance responsive to voltage changes, the current controlled means being substantially unaffected by the voltage coil, a main switch in circuit with the generator,

and means affected by both coils for efl'ecting the operation of said main switch.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a variable speed generator, a storage battery and work circuit connected thereto in parallel, a compressible variable resistance regulating the generator voltage, a coil responsive to changes in battery current, means controlled thereby for varying said resistance responsive to current changes, a coil responslve to nerator voltage changes, means controll thereby for varying said resistance responsive to voltage changes, the voltage controlled means bein substantially unaffected by the current coi a main switch in circuit with r the switch.

Signed at De and State of October A. D. 1920.

win

generator, and means affected by both coils for efiecting the operation of said mam the county of Erie ew York this llth day of ELI J. BLAKE. 

